By Brian Gleason, Owner, Super Roofing Company. Last updated May 2026.
Super Roofing Company is a CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractor — one of only five in the Charlotte metro. Contractor License #CLG 126643.
CertainTeed shingles weigh more shingle-for-shingle across the entire product line versus competitors, which provides added durability across every tier (at the entry tier, Landmark is 218 lbs per square versus 200 lbs for both GAF Timberline HDZ and Owens Corning Duration). Landmark uses Quadra-Bond four-point lamination — industry-leading versus competitor two-point bonding. CertainTeed is the only manufacturer to offer a true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty (Owens Corning Platinum prorates after year 25; GAF Golden Pledge caps at 25 years). Most CertainTeed residential shingle lines are manufactured at the company's Oxford, NC plant, approximately 165 miles from Charlotte. We install both the 30-year and Lifetime workmanship tiers as one of only five CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors in the Charlotte metro.
Every roofing contractor in the Charlotte market markets a "Lifetime Warranty." Few of them explain what that warranty actually covers. The standard Limited Lifetime Shingle Warranty covers manufacturer defects in the shingle alone, pro-rates the shingle credit after year 10, and excludes labor, disposal, underlayment, flashing, and every other system component. When a defect occurs, the homeowner receives a small shingle credit and absorbs the majority of the replacement cost.
That structure is the warranty problem in residential roofing. The solution is what we install: CertainTeed shingles, under a warranty package that pays the full cost of replacement when a defect or workmanship issue requires it, installed by one of only five CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors in the Charlotte metro.
Super service. Super solutions. Super satisfaction. That is the Super Roofing Company way.
This page explains why we install CertainTeed exclusively, what the SureStart Plus warranty actually covers, how the 4-Star and 5-Star workmanship tiers add coverage on top of the manufacturer defect warranty, and how the complete package compares against the elite-tier warranties from Owens Corning and GAF. When you are ready to schedule an inspection, our residential roof replacement page covers the process and pricing.
We install CertainTeed shingles exclusively for two reasons. Neither reason is loyalty.
The shingle itself. CertainTeed shingles weigh more shingle-for-shingle across the entire product line versus competitors, which provides added durability across every tier. The weight advantage means more asphalt content per square — directly improving granule retention, cold-weather flexibility, impact resistance, and field life. At the entry tier, CertainTeed Landmark weighs an average of 218 pounds per square per the manufacturer's published specifications; the competing entry-tier architectural shingles, GAF Timberline HDZ and Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration, both weigh 200 pounds per square. The 18 pounds of additional weight per square (approximately 9 percent more asphalt content) translates directly to better granule retention, better cold-weather flexibility, and longer field life. The weight advantage extends across the full CertainTeed lineup: Landmark Pro at 270 pounds per square, Landmark Premium at 300 pounds per square, and the Luxury portfolio at the heaviest weights in residential roofing (Grand Manor at 480 pounds per square is the heaviest dimensional shingle on the market). At every tier, CertainTeed outweighs the GAF and Owens Corning equivalent. All three products in this comparison are dual-layer laminated architectural shingles. They differ in how the layers are bonded together, and this is where Landmark holds an industry-leading advantage. Landmark uses CertainTeed's proprietary Quadra-Bond adhesive at four points of adhesion between the two shingle layers. The competing industry standard is two-point bonding. Four points of adhesion provide measurably superior resistance to shingle delamination — the primary structural failure mode for laminated architectural shingles over the long service life of the roof. Timberline HDZ uses LayerLock Technology, a mechanical bond through the common bond area designed primarily to expand the nailing zone. Duration uses SureNail Technology, a fabric-reinforced strip in the nailing zone. Both LayerLock and SureNail address installation accuracy and nail-hold; neither matches Quadra-Bond's four-point lamination strength.
The warranty package. The combined SureStart Plus and 5-Star warranty package is the strongest combined product-and-warranty coverage available in residential roofing. The 5-Star tier is exclusive to CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors, and Premier Contractors are rare in the Charlotte metro. There are only five of us across Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Iredell, Gaston, York, and Lancaster counties. The Lifetime workmanship coverage within the 5-Star tier is exclusive to CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors, and it is the only true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty offered by any manufacturer in residential roofing.
Carolina-made manufacturing. CertainTeed has manufactured roofing shingles in Oxford, North Carolina since 1978. The 113-acre Oxford plant is one of the largest roofing shingle manufacturing sites in North America and produces most of CertainTeed's residential shingle lines, including products in the Landmark family. CertainTeed operates additional manufacturing facilities across North America that produce other product lines. CertainTeed is the North American subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, a 360-year-old building products company headquartered in France and one of the largest construction companies in the world. The shingles we install on most Charlotte-metro homes are manufactured approximately 165 miles from your roof. Carolina-made is not a marketing slogan for us. For the majority of our installations, it is the literal supply chain from raw materials to finished product to your roof deck.
CertainTeed is the only manufacturer in residential roofing to offer a true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty. This is the single competitive position no other manufacturer can match. Owens Corning markets a "Lifetime workmanship" warranty under its Platinum Protection program, but the contract covers only 25 years non-prorated, then prorates the coverage annually for the remainder of ownership, and excludes flashing and metal work entirely. GAF Golden Pledge tops out at 25 years of non-prorated workmanship, which is not lifetime at all. Only CertainTeed offers Lifetime workmanship coverage that holds full value for the actual life of the roof, available on premium and luxury installations paired with the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade. Only CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors can install it. Super Roofing Company is one of only five CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors in the Charlotte metro.
The combination is what matters. The heaviest shingle on the market, installed by a CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractor, backed by the only true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty in residential roofing.
We install three products in the CertainTeed Landmark architectural family across the Charlotte metro.
CertainTeed Landmark. The entry tier of the family, weighing an average of 218 pounds per square per the manufacturer's published specifications. Landmark is a dual-layer laminated architectural shingle bonded with CertainTeed's proprietary Quadra-Bond adhesive at four points of adhesion — industry-leading versus the two-point bonding standard. The shingle carries a Class A fire rating under UL 790 and a UL 2218 Class 3 impact rating. It is covered by Limited Lifetime material coverage and a 25-year StreakFighter algae resistance warranty when paired with the matched CertainTeed AR hip-and-ridge cap, which is our standard. The bundle-rated wind warranty is 110 mph at a four-nail installation. Our six-nail installation as part of the full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System unlocks the unlimited wind warranty under SureStart Plus 4-Star or 5-Star. Landmark is the appropriate choice for cost-conscious replacements where the warranty package and the Premier credential are the primary value drivers.
CertainTeed Landmark Pro. The mid-tier of the family, weighing 270 pounds per square. The shingle carries a Class A fire rating, a UL 2218 Class 3 impact rating, and a 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty. The unlimited wind warranty is available with our standard installation as part of the full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System under SureStart Plus 4-Star or 5-Star. Landmark Pro qualifies for our 5-Star Lifetime workmanship tier when the installation includes the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade in valleys and around penetrations. Entry-tier Landmark does not qualify for Lifetime workmanship regardless of Vycor selection.
CertainTeed Landmark Premium. The heaviest, most durable Class 4 architectural shingle on the market. At 300 pounds per square, it is the heaviest dual-laminate architectural shingle produced by any manufacturer. The shingle carries a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, which is the highest impact rating awarded under the UL standard, and a 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty. The unlimited wind warranty is available with our standard installation as part of the full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System under SureStart Plus 4-Star or 5-Star. Landmark Premium qualifies for our 5-Star Lifetime workmanship tier when paired with the Grace Vycor upgrade. It is the only architectural Class 4 product in CertainTeed's lineup available in our region.
The positioning of CertainTeed Landmark Premium as the heaviest, most durable Class 4 architectural shingle on the market is not marketing language. It is the truth of the specification sheet:
Competing Class 4 architectural shingles exist in the Charlotte market. GAF Timberline UHDZ achieved Class 4 status nationwide in February 2026 through UltraMat fiberglass mat technology. Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration STORM achieves Class 4 through WeatherGuard non-SBS polymeric backing. Both products are credible Class 4 shingles. Neither product matches Landmark Premium on weight, and neither pairs with a credentialed warranty package on equivalent terms in our region.
The deciding factor between credible Class 4 architectural products is consistently the warranty package and the credential tier of the installer. On both dimensions, the combined CertainTeed Landmark Premium and 5-Star SureStart Plus package installed by our team is the strongest option available.
UL 2218 is the impact resistance standard for prepared roofing materials, published by Underwriters Laboratories. The standard defines four classes, with Class 4 representing the highest impact rating available. The test methodology uses a steel ball dropped from 20 feet onto the same point on the shingle:
A shingle passes the Class 4 test only if no cracking, fracturing, splitting, tearing, or rupture of the reinforcement occurs after the two impacts. The two-inch steel ball traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour simulates the impact of severe hail. A two-inch hailstone approximates the size of a hen egg, which is also the size of the largest hail report near Charlotte since 2004.
Class 4 is the only UL 2218 rating recognized by most major insurance carriers for impact-resistant credit. Three different manufacturer technology paths achieve Class 4: heavy dual-laminate construction (employed by CertainTeed Landmark Premium), SBS polymer modification of the asphalt, and non-SBS polymeric backing (employed by Owens Corning Duration STORM). All three approaches satisfy the same standard through different engineering methods.
A standard architectural shingle absorbs granule loss from one-inch hail and accumulates visible damage from 1.25-inch hail and larger. A Class 4 shingle resists the impact damage that initiates the failure cascade on standard shingles. The protective benefit appears in four distinct ways.
Granule retention after impact. The granules embedded in the shingle surface are the ceramic coating that protects the asphalt layer from ultraviolet degradation. When hail dislodges granules, the exposed asphalt begins UV-driven embrittlement. A standard shingle that absorbs one-inch hail develops scattered granule loss, and the affected areas accumulate micro-cracks and accelerated aging over subsequent years. Class 4 shingles retain granules through the same impact range.
Asphalt fracture resistance during freeze-thaw cycling. A standard shingle that absorbs a glancing hail impact and survives still develops micro-fractures in the asphalt layer. Charlotte's freeze-thaw cycling — typically 25 to 35 nights of below-freezing temperatures per winter — propagates those micro-fractures into larger cracks over subsequent seasons. Class 4 shingles resist the initial damage that initiates the cycle.
Fewer claim-triggering events. A Class 4 roof that survives a 1.5-inch hail event without significant damage results in no claim filed, no deductible paid, and no claim history affecting future premiums. Insurance carriers prefer Class 4 roofs for this reason.
Longer service life under repeated hail exposure. The cumulative damage difference between Class 4 and standard architectural shingles compounds over a 25-year service period. Standard architectural roofs in higher-hail-exposure areas frequently require replacement at year 18 to 22. Class 4 roofs in the same exposure profile typically reach their full 25-to-30-year design life.
Most North Carolina and South Carolina homeowner policies offer an impact-resistant credit when the roof carries UL 2218 Class 4 certification. The discount applies to the wind-and-hail component of the annual premium, which typically represents 25 to 35 percent of total premium. The discount does not apply to the full premium.
The discount range across NC and SC carriers runs 15 to 30 percent of the wind-and-hail premium component, with variation by carrier. Some carriers, including State Farm and USAA, publish standardized discount schedules. Others price by territory. The discount applies for the entire service life of the roof as long as the UL 2218 certification documentation remains on file with the carrier.
The cumulative effect over the roof's service life is meaningful. On an annual policy premium of $2,200 with a 30 percent wind-and-hail component ($660), a 20 percent discount on that component produces $132 in annual savings. Over a 25-year roof life, the cumulative savings reach $3,300. Higher-premium policies and properties in higher-hail-exposure ZIP codes produce larger absolute savings.
A deductible consideration also affects the analysis. Every hail damage insurance claim triggers the policy's wind-and-hail deductible, which commonly runs 1 to 3 percent of insured home value in North Carolina. On a home insured for $400,000, a 2 percent deductible represents $8,000 in out-of-pocket cost before any insurance payment occurs. A Class 4 roof that survives a hail event without filing a claim avoids the deductible entirely, which is a financial benefit beyond the annual premium discount.
We provide the UL 2218 product certification at closeout on every Landmark Premium installation. The certification is the documentation your insurance agent requires to apply the discount. Confirm with your specific carrier before deciding, because discount levels vary materially.
CertainTeed Luxury is a separate category from architectural. The portfolio includes seven products, all triple-laminate or specially engineered with slate, wood shake, or designer aesthetics. Every product in the Luxury tier carries a Class 4 impact rating, and every product qualifies for our 5-Star Lifetime workmanship tier when paired with the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade.
Grand Manor. A five-laminate shingle engineered to replicate natural slate. The shingle weighs 480 pounds per square and carries a Class 4 impact rating and a 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty. Grand Manor is the appropriate choice for high-end residential properties where the slate aesthetic is the design driver.
Belmont. A triple-laminate shingle with a slate aesthetic and deeper shadow lines than Grand Manor in a different visual profile. Class 4 impact rated. 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty.
Carriage House. A triple-laminate shingle engineered to replicate premium wood shake. The product features a random tab pattern with varied exposure. Class 4 impact rated. 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty.
Presidential Shake. A triple-laminate wood shake replication with distinctive shadow lines and an authentic wood-shake profile. Class 4 impact rated. 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty.
Presidential Shake TL. The premium tier of the Presidential Shake line. Triple-laminate construction with the longest shadow profile in the Presidential family. Class 4 impact rated. 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty.
Landmark TL. A triple-laminate shingle with a dimensional architectural profile in the Luxury tier. Class 4 impact rated. 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty. Landmark TL functions as the bridge product between architectural and luxury, providing greater weight and dimensionality than the standard Landmark family at a lower price point than Grand Manor or Belmont.
Highland Slate. A slate-replication shingle in the Luxury tier. Class 4 impact rated. 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty.
The full Luxury product breakdown, including pricing, color palettes, and design considerations, is available on our luxury asphalt shingle page. For homeowners selecting a Luxury product, the installation specification and warranty package match what we deliver on Landmark Premium installations. The specification includes a six-nail installation, matched CertainTeed starter and hip-and-ridge cap, Grace Vycor leak barrier at valleys and around penetrations, and 5-Star SureStart Plus warranty registration filed at closeout. Lifetime workmanship coverage is available with the Vycor upgrade.
Most homeowners shopping for a Charlotte residential architectural roof are choosing among three products: CertainTeed Landmark, GAF Timberline HDZ, and Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration.
| Specification | CertainTeed Landmark | GAF Timberline HDZ | Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration |
| Weight per square | 218 lbs | 200 lbs | 200 lbs |
| Construction | Dual-layer laminated with Quadra-Bond (4-point bonding) | Dual-layer laminated with LayerLock (mechanical bond) | Dual-layer laminated with SureNail (fabric strip) |
| UL 2218 impact rating | Class 3 | Class 3 | Class 3 |
| Maximum available wind warranty | Unlimited with the full Integrity Roof System under 4-Star or 5-Star SureStart Plus | WindProven Limited (Master Elite installers only, no wind speed cap) | 130 mph |
| Algae resistance warranty | 25-year StreakFighter with matched CertainTeed AR hip-and-ridge | 25-year StainGuard Plus with StainGuard Plus product variant | 10-year StreakGuard |
| Material warranty | Limited Lifetime transferable | Lifetime Limited transferable | Limited Lifetime transferable |
| Standard non-prorated period | 10-year SureStart | 10 years non-prorated | 10-year Tru PROtection |
Quick read on the comparison: CertainTeed Landmark wins on weight (218 vs 200 lbs), bonding strength (Quadra-Bond 4-point versus 2-point standard), algae warranty (25 years versus 10 years for Duration), and standard wind warranty at the credentialed tier. The impact rating ties at Class 3. Net result: CertainTeed Landmark wins 5 of 7 dimensions, ties 2 of 7.
Landmark outweighs both competing entry-tier architectural shingles by 18 pounds per square — approximately 9 percent more asphalt content. The additional weight produces measurably better granule retention, cold-weather flexibility, and field life across the rated service period. The weight advantage extends across the entire CertainTeed product line: at every tier from Landmark to the Luxury portfolio, CertainTeed shingles weigh more shingle-for-shingle than the GAF and Owens Corning equivalents.
All three products are dual-layer laminated architectural shingles. They differ in how the layers are bonded together, and this is where Landmark holds a real, industry-leading advantage. Landmark uses CertainTeed's proprietary Quadra-Bond adhesive at four points of adhesion between the two shingle layers. The competing industry standard is two-point bonding. Four points of adhesion provide measurably better resistance to shingle delamination, which is the primary structural failure mode for laminated architectural shingles after long thermal cycling and wind exposure. Timberline HDZ uses LayerLock Technology, a mechanical bond through the common bond area designed primarily to expand the nailing zone. Duration uses SureNail Technology, a fabric-reinforced strip integrated into the nailing zone. Both LayerLock and SureNail address installation accuracy and nail-hold; neither matches Quadra-Bond's four-point lamination strength. Combined with the 18-pound weight advantage on Landmark, Quadra-Bond produces a shingle that resists delamination, retains granules, and stays bonded for the full rated service period.
All three entry-tier architectural products carry a UL 2218 Class 3 impact rating. The Class 4 distinction begins at the upgraded tier, where Landmark Premium competes against Timberline UHDZ and Duration STORM.
The honest comparison is worth noting at the bundle level. Both Timberline HDZ and Duration carry a 130 mph wind warranty out of the bundle at the standard four-nail installation. Landmark carries a 110 mph rating at the four-nail installation; our six-nail installation as part of the full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System unlocks the unlimited wind warranty under SureStart Plus 4-Star or 5-Star. Timberline HDZ's WindProven Limited Wind Warranty also has no maximum wind speed cap, although the warranty requires Master Elite credential, which is held by under two percent of GAF-certified roofers, plus four specific GAF accessories. Both manufacturers offer no-cap wind warranties through their elite credential programs.
For a Charlotte homeowner, the combination of the weight advantage, Quadra-Bond four-point lamination, the unlimited wind warranty available through the full Integrity Roof System under SureStart Plus, and the Premier-tier warranty package makes Landmark the strongest architectural shingle available in our market.
Every architectural shingle from CertainTeed, GAF, and Owens Corning ships with a standard Limited Lifetime Shingle Warranty. The headline number is "Lifetime." The actual coverage has three structural limitations that homeowners do not see in a sales conversation.
The standard warranty covers manufacturer defects in the shingle only. It does not cover the underlayment, the flashing, the vents, or any other system component. A defective shingle is the only condition that triggers a claim.
The standard warranty pro-rates after year 10. The non-prorated period is just the first 10 years. After year 10, the shingle credit declines by approximately 2 percent annually until it reaches zero. A 20-year-old roof with a defective shingle receives a credit for roughly 20 percent of shingle material cost. A 25-year-old roof receives almost nothing.
The standard warranty does not cover labor or disposal. When a defective shingle requires replacement, the manufacturer credit applies only to the shingles themselves. Tear-off, labor, the underlayment, the flashing, and disposal fees all fall on the homeowner. Labor and associated costs represent the majority of the actual replacement expense.
Defects in shingles are rare events. But when a defect does occur, the standard warranty leaves the homeowner absorbing a substantial majority of the replacement cost. This is the warranty most homeowners are actually being sold when a contractor markets a "Lifetime Warranty."
Our SureStart Plus warranty is structurally different from the standard Limited Lifetime warranty. It is a 50-year non-prorated manufacturer defect warranty with full-replacement coverage.
When a manufacturer defect requires a roof replacement during the 50-year coverage period, SureStart Plus pays the full cost of the replacement: all labor, all materials (including underlayment, flashing, vents, and other system components), and all tear-off and disposal fees. The coverage is not pro-rated at any point during the 50-year period. A defect surfacing in year 1 is covered at the same full-replacement rate as a defect surfacing in year 50.
SureStart Plus is registered with CertainTeed at closeout on every installation we complete, and the coverage is included at no additional cost. The registration becomes part of your file. You do not need to do anything to maintain the coverage.
The structural value of SureStart Plus is that it eliminates the four most common reasons standard warranty claims fail to fully compensate the homeowner: pro-rating of the credit, materials-only coverage, no labor or disposal coverage, and no coverage for non-shingle system components. SureStart Plus addresses each of these limitations, and it does so without pro-rating at any point during the 50-year coverage period.
Manufacturer defects represent one category of roof failure. The other category is workmanship, which describes installation errors of the type detailed earlier on this page. Because we hold the ShingleMaster Premier credential, every installation we complete carries a workmanship warranty layered on top of the 50-year non-prorated SureStart Plus defect coverage. There is no Super Roofing Company roof that lacks workmanship coverage. The duration depends on the tier registered: 15 years, 30 years, or Lifetime. All three options provide full-replacement scope (all labor, all materials, all disposal) when a qualifying workmanship issue requires repair or replacement.
4-Star: 15-year workmanship warranty. Available on any Landmark family installation. Workmanship coverage runs 15 years, non-prorated, with the same full-replacement scope as SureStart Plus.
5-Star: 30-year workmanship warranty. Available on any Landmark family installation. Workmanship coverage runs 30 years, non-prorated, with full-replacement scope. This tier is exclusive to CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors. Fewer than five contractors in the Charlotte metro can offer it. This is our standard registration on every installation we complete.
5-Star Lifetime: Lifetime workmanship warranty. Available on Landmark Pro and Luxury installations when the leak barrier is upgraded from Grace Select or WinterGuard to Grace Vycor Ice & Water Shield at all valleys, roof-to-wall penetrations, pipes, vents, and attic fans. Workmanship coverage runs for the actual service life of the roof, non-prorated throughout. CertainTeed is the only manufacturer to offer a true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty.Owens Corning Platinum markets "Lifetime workmanship" but covers only 25 years non-prorated, then prorates the coverage annually for the remainder of ownership. GAF Golden Pledge caps at 25 years and is not lifetime at all. Only CertainTeed offers Lifetime workmanship coverage that holds full value for the actual life of the roof, and only CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors can install it.
The Lifetime tier exists because the Vycor upgrade installs the most leak-resistant barrier on the market at the precise points where Charlotte roofs most frequently leak: valleys, roof-to-wall transitions, and penetrations. The installation discipline is what allows CertainTeed to back Lifetime workmanship coverage. A homeowner who selects the Vycor upgrade on a qualifying installation receives a manufacturer-backed warranty that pays the full cost of replacement, with no pro-rating, for the actual life of the roof.
A homeowner who selects Landmark Pro or a Luxury product with the Vycor upgrade receives the strongest combined warranty package available in residential roofing:
No other manufacturer offers this combination. The comparison sections that follow explain why.
The most common premium warranty comparison Charlotte homeowners face is CertainTeed SureStart Plus 5-Star versus Owens Corning Platinum Protection. Both warranties are elite-tier credentialed coverage, available only through the top installer tier in each manufacturer's program. The structural comparison reveals the carve-outs that the marketing language does not disclose.
On non-prorated material and labor coverage, CertainTeed provides 50 years. Owens Corning provides 50 years on single-family detached properties only, with 20-year coverage on other structures.
On tear-off and disposal, both warranties include this coverage.
On flashing and metal work coverage, CertainTeed includes flashing in warranty repair. Owens Corning Platinum Protection explicitly excludes flashing under Exclusion #7, which states: "any non-Owens Corning products, including but not limited to metal work, counter flashing, failed and/or corroded roof nails, or pipe boots." This exclusion is material because the majority of real-world warranty claims trace back to flashing failures rather than shingle defects.
On workmanship coverage, CertainTeed provides 30 years non-prorated as the standard 5-Star tier, with Lifetime non-prorated coverage available as the 5-Star Lifetime tier when paired with the Grace Vycor upgrade. Owens Corning provides 25 years non-prorated, after which the coverage pro-rates annually for the lifetime of ownership.Owens Corning markets this structure as "Lifetime workmanship," but a year-30 claim under Platinum Protection pays significantly less than a year-25 claim, and a year-40 claim pays almost nothing. CertainTeed's Lifetime workmanship coverage holds full value throughout the entire life of the roof.
On transferability, CertainTeed provides 20-year transferability with no fee and no notification paperwork. Owens Corning provides a one-time transfer within 20 years, requires a $100 transfer fee, and requires the homeowner to register the transfer within 60 days of property sale. Owens Corning's "Lifetime workmanship" coverage is reduced to 25 years on transfer within years 1 through 20, and the coverage expires entirely on transfer after year 20.
On maximum wind warranty, CertainTeed provides an unlimited wind warranty under SureStart Plus 4-Star and 5-Star when the full Integrity Roof System is installed. Owens Corning Platinum caps at 130 mph.
On ventilation as a warranty exclusion, Owens Corning explicitly excludes failure to install adequate ventilation as a workmanship error, stated twice in the warranty document under Exclusion #6. CertainTeed reduces coverage to 10 years on inadequately ventilated decks but retains manufacturing defect coverage if the defect is unrelated to ventilation.
CertainTeed wins decisively on the dimensions that determine real-world warranty value: the Lifetime workmanship structure (truly non-prorated versus prorated after year 25), flashing coverage (included versus explicitly excluded), transferability (no fee and no paperwork versus $100 fee and 60-day registration window), and maximum wind warranty (unlimited versus 130 mph).
GAF's elite-tier warranty is the Golden Pledge, available only through GAF Master Elite contractors. The Master Elite credential is held by fewer than two percent of GAF-certified roofers.
The Golden Pledge offers structural features comparable to SureStart Plus 5-Star. Both elite-tier credentialed warranties provide no-cap wind warranty coverage through their respective installer programs: GAF Golden Pledge with WindProven Limited Wind Warranty (requires four GAF accessories and Master Elite credential), and CertainTeed SureStart Plus 4-Star or 5-Star (requires the full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System and Premier credential). The wind warranty maximums are now effectively equivalent at the elite credential tier. The material difference remains the workmanship duration. GAF Golden Pledge tops out at 25 years of non-prorated workmanship coverage. CertainTeed offers 30 years non-prorated as the standard 5-Star tier, and Lifetime non-prorated with the Vycor upgrade on Landmark Pro and Luxury installations. GAF Lifetime coverage applies to materials only, not to workmanship.
For a Charlotte homeowner choosing between the two elite-tier warranties, the shingle weight comparison (Landmark heavier by 18 pounds per square), the Quadra-Bond four-point lamination versus LayerLock two-point bonding, and the workmanship duration all favor CertainTeed decisively. The wind warranty maximum is no longer a differentiator.
CertainTeed is the only manufacturer in residential roofing to offer a true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty, available on premium and luxury installations paired with the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade. This is not a marketing claim. It is the conclusion of a direct comparison of the three premium warranty contracts.
CertainTeed 5-Star SureStart Plus Lifetime workmanship coverage is both lifetime in duration and non-prorated throughout. A year-1 claim and a year-40 claim pay at the same full-replacement rate.
Owens Corning Platinum Protection markets "Lifetime workmanship," but the warranty contract covers only 25 years non-prorated, then prorates the coverage annually for the remainder of ownership. The marketing name and the contractual coverage describe different things.
GAF Golden Pledge provides 25 years of non-prorated workmanship and stops there. The coverage is not lifetime at all.
The CertainTeed position is structurally unique in the industry. The credential required to install it is rare in our market. Super Roofing Company is one of only five CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors across the Charlotte metro.
CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractor is the highest-tier installer credential in CertainTeed's 2026 Contractor's EDGE installer program, which replaced the legacy SELECT ShingleMaster designation in January 2026. The credential requires:
The credential matters to a Charlotte homeowner for four reasons.
Access to the 5-Star SureStart Plus warranty. The 5-Star tier is exclusive to CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors. Lower-credentialed CertainTeed installers can offer 3-Star or 4-Star SureStart Plus but not 5-Star. Non-credentialed CertainTeed installers cannot offer SureStart Plus at any tier.
The Lifetime workmanship tier is Premier-only. Even within the 5-Star tier, the true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship option is available exclusively through CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors. This is the coverage that distinguishes CertainTeed from every other manufacturer in residential roofing.
Installation as the full CertainTeed Integrity Roof System. Our Premier installations use matched CertainTeed components throughout the assembly: synthetic underlayment, Grace Select, WinterGuard, or Grace Vycor leak barrier, starter strip, field shingles, hip-and-ridge cap, and ridge ventilation. The system is engineered to perform as a unit. Mixed-manufacturer components on non-credentialed installations do not have that engineering match, and they do not qualify for 5-Star warranty registration.
CertainTeed field audits of completed work. Premier installations are subject to manufacturer audit at any time, and CertainTeed retains the authority to pull the credential if the work does not meet manufacturer standards. The audit discipline is structural, not nominal. The credential is not a one-time certification. It is an ongoing accountability mechanism that maintains Premier installation quality over time.
Super Roofing Company is one of only five CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors across the Charlotte metro, serving Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, Iredell, and Gaston counties in North Carolina, and York and Lancaster counties in South Carolina. The Premier credential is not common in our market.
1.Why do you prefer CertainTeed?
We prefer CertainTeed because the combined product-and-warranty package is the strongest available in residential roofing. CertainTeed shingles weigh more shingle-for-shingle across the entire product line versus competitors, which provides added durability across every tier. At the entry tier, Landmark weighs an average of 218 pounds per square versus 200 pounds for both Timberline HDZ and Duration — 18 pounds of additional asphalt content per square, approximately 9 percent more material. The same weight advantage holds across mid-tier (Landmark Pro), premium tier (Landmark Premium at 300 lbs/sq), and luxury tier (Grand Manor at 480 lbs/sq) — at every tier, CertainTeed outweighs the GAF and Owens Corning equivalent. The additional weight produces better granule retention and longer field life. Our 5-Star SureStart Plus warranty is the most comprehensive combined product-and-warranty coverage in residential roofing. CertainTeed is the only manufacturer to offer a true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty, available on premium and luxury installations paired with the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade. All other manufacturers cap their non-prorated workmanship at 25 years and apply restrictions that limit company exposure. Only Premier contractors can install the Lifetime tier.
2. What makes Landmark Premium the heaviest, most durable Class 4 architectural shingle on the market?
Three structural factors. The first is weight: at 300 pounds per square, Landmark Premium is the heaviest dual-layer laminated architectural shingle produced by any manufacturer. The second is construction: it uses CertainTeed's proprietary Quadra-Bond adhesive at four points of adhesion between the two shingle layers, versus the two-point bonding standard used by GAF Timberline UHDZ and Owens Corning Duration STORM. Four-point bonding provides industry-leading resistance to shingle delamination. The third is the UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating, which is the highest impact rating awarded under the standard. Combined with the 30-year StreakFighter algae warranty, the unlimited wind warranty available under SureStart Plus 4-Star or 5-Star with the full Integrity Roof System, and eligibility for our 5-Star Lifetime workmanship tier with the Grace Vycor upgrade, Landmark Premium offers the strongest combined package available in residential architectural shingle.
3. What is UL 2218 Class 4 impact resistance?
UL 2218 Class 4 is the highest impact resistance rating available under the UL 2218 standard. The rating is tested by dropping a two-inch steel ball from 20 feet onto the same spot on the shingle twice. The shingle passes only if no cracking, fracturing, splitting, tearing, or rupture of the reinforcement occurs. The two-inch steel ball traveling at approximately 65 miles per hour simulates severe hail, and a two-inch hailstone approximates hen-egg size. Class 4 is the only rating recognized by most major insurance carriers for impact-resistant credit.
4. How much will I save on insurance with a Class 4 roof?
Most North Carolina and South Carolina homeowner policies offer a 15 to 30 percent discount on the wind-and-hail premium component when the roof carries UL 2218 Class 4 certification. The wind-and-hail component typically represents 25 to 35 percent of total annual premium. On a $2,200 premium with a 30 percent wind-and-hail component ($660), a 20 percent discount saves $132 per year, which equals $3,300 over a 25-year roof life. Higher-premium policies and properties in higher-hail-exposure ZIP codes produce larger savings. Confirm with your specific carrier, because discount levels vary materially.
5. What does SureStart Plus actually cover?
SureStart Plus is a 50-year non-prorated manufacturer defect warranty. When a manufacturer shingle defect requires a roof replacement during the 50-year coverage period, SureStart Plus pays the full cost: all labor, all materials including underlayment and flashing, and all tear-off and disposal fees. The coverage does not pro-rate at any point during the 50-year period. The standard manufacturer warranty that ships with every architectural shingle is structurally different. It covers manufacturer shingle defects only, pro-rates the shingle credit after year 10, and excludes labor, disposal, and non-shingle system components.
6. How is the 5-Star workmanship warranty different from SureStart Plus?
SureStart Plus covers manufacturer defects in the shingles. The 4-Star and 5-Star workmanship warranties add a separate layer of coverage on top, which covers installation errors (workmanship defects). Both warranties provide full-replacement scope: labor, materials, and disposal. The 4-Star tier provides 15 years of workmanship coverage. The 5-Star tier provides 30 years (exclusive to Premier contractors). The 5-Star Lifetime tier provides Lifetime non-prorated workmanship coverage (exclusive to Premier contractors and requires the Grace Vycor upgrade on Landmark Pro or Luxury installations). All three workmanship warranties are CertainTeed-backed.
7. Is CertainTeed Lifetime workmanship really the only one of its kind?
Yes. CertainTeed is the only manufacturer to offer a true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship warranty, available on premium and luxury installations paired with the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade. Owens Corning Platinum Protection markets "Lifetime workmanship," but the warranty contract covers only 25 years non-prorated, then prorates the coverage annually for the remainder of ownership, and excludes flashing and metal work entirely under Exclusion #7. GAF Golden Pledge tops out at 25 years of non-prorated workmanship coverage; GAF Lifetime applies only to materials, not to workmanship. CertainTeed is the only manufacturer in residential roofing whose top-tier workmanship warranty is both lifetime in duration and non-prorated throughout. Only CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors can install it.
8. What is the difference between the three workmanship tiers?
All three are CertainTeed-backed warranties added on top of the 50-year non-prorated SureStart Plus defect warranty. The 4-Star 15-year workmanship tier is available with 4-Star SureStart Plus on any Landmark family installation. The 5-Star 30-year workmanship tier is standard with 5-Star SureStart Plus on any Landmark family installation, and it is exclusive to CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors. The 5-Star Lifetime workmanship tier is available on Landmark Pro and Luxury installations paired with the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade at all valleys, roof-to-wall penetrations, pipes, vents, and attic fans, and it is exclusive to CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors. The Lifetime tier is the strongest workmanship coverage available in residential roofing.
9. What does the ShingleMaster Premier credential mean?
CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractor is the highest-tier installer credential in CertainTeed's 2026 Contractor's EDGE program. The credential requires CertainTeed-led training, a demonstrated installation track record, business and financial standing review, ongoing recertification, and field audits of completed installations with credential-pull authority for substandard work. Super Roofing Company is one of only five CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors across the Charlotte metro. The credential is what allows us to offer the 5-Star SureStart Plus warranty and the true, non-prorated Lifetime workmanship tier, which is coverage that no lower-credentialed contractor in any manufacturer's program can match.
10. Why does the Vycor upgrade matter for the Lifetime workmanship tier?
CertainTeed Grace Vycor Ice & Water Shield is the most leak-resistant self-adhering barrier available, installed at the most leak-prone points on a roof: valleys, roof-to-wall penetrations, pipe boots, vents, and attic fans. The majority of real-world roof leaks on Charlotte homes trace back to these penetration points rather than to the field shingles. The Lifetime workmanship tier requires the Vycor upgrade because the upgraded leak barrier at those points materially reduces the warranty risk, and CertainTeed can back lifetime non-prorated coverage because the installation specification is engineered to prevent the failures. The Vycor upgrade is quoted separately based on roof complexity and the number of penetrations.
11. Is CertainTeed better than GAF?
For residential architectural roofing in our market, we prefer CertainTeed for four reasons. First, CertainTeed shingles weigh more shingle-for-shingle across the entire product line versus competitors, which provides added durability across every tier — at the entry tier, Landmark averages 218 pounds per square versus 200 pounds for Timberline HDZ, which represents 18 pounds of additional asphalt content per square. The same weight advantage extends to mid-tier (Landmark Pro), premium tier (Landmark Premium), and luxury tier (Grand Manor at 480 lbs/sq) — at every tier CertainTeed outweighs the GAF equivalent. Second, Landmark uses CertainTeed's proprietary Quadra-Bond adhesive at four points of adhesion between the two shingle layers — industry-leading versus the two-point bonding standard used by Timberline HDZ. Four-point bonding provides superior resistance to shingle delamination. Third, CertainTeed offers a stronger warranty package: SureStart Plus is a 50-year non-prorated defect warranty with full-replacement coverage, and CertainTeed is the only manufacturer offering 30-year and Lifetime workmanship warranties (GAF Golden Pledge tops at 25 years). Fourth, most CertainTeed residential shingle lines are manufactured at the company's Oxford, NC plant, approximately 165 miles from Charlotte. On wind warranty maximum, both manufacturers are equivalent at the elite credential tier: GAF WindProven and CertainTeed SureStart Plus 4-Star or 5-Star both offer no-cap wind warranty coverage when installed with the required system components by the credentialed contractor.
12. How does CertainTeed compare against GAF Timberline shingles?
CertainTeed Landmark weighs an average of 218 pounds per square. GAF Timberline HDZ weighs 200 pounds per square. The 18 pounds of additional weight per square (approximately 9 percent more asphalt content) produces better granule retention and longer field life. Both Landmark and Timberline HDZ are dual-layer laminated architectural shingles. The bonding method differs materially: Landmark uses CertainTeed's proprietary Quadra-Bond adhesive at four points of adhesion between the two layers, while Timberline HDZ uses LayerLock Technology — a mechanical bond through the common bond area. Four-point bonding is industry-leading for resistance to shingle delamination, the primary structural failure mode for laminated architectural shingles. On impact rating, Landmark and Timberline HDZ both carry a UL 2218 Class 3 rating at the entry tier. At the upgraded tier, Landmark Premium is Class 4. GAF's Class 4 product is Timberline UHDZ (Class 4 nationwide since February 2026), which compares to Landmark Premium. GAF's Golden Pledge warranty, available only through Master Elite contractors, is comparable in scope to SureStart Plus 5-Star, but it tops out at 25 years non-prorated workmanship versus CertainTeed's 30-year standard and Lifetime upgrade.
13. Are all CertainTeed Luxury shingles Class 4 impact rated?
Yes. The full CertainTeed Luxury tier (Landmark TL, Grand Manor, Belmont, Carriage House, Presidential Shake, Presidential TL, and Highland Slate) is UL 2218 Class 4 impact rated. All products qualify for our 5-Star Lifetime workmanship tier with the Grace Vycor leak barrier upgrade. All products carry a 30-year StreakFighter algae resistance warranty.
14. Does Charlotte get a lot of hail?
Charlotte is not in "hail alley." The hail-alley region across Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming averages seven to nine hail days per year. Charlotte averages approximately two ground-confirmed hail reports per year within 10 miles of the city center, based on NOAA Storm Events Database records since 2004. What our region experiences is localized summer convective thunderstorms producing hail in specific neighborhoods rather than uniformly across the metro. Most years see small hail (one inch or smaller) along narrow paths. Occasional years produce larger regional events. In June 2023, a storm produced 1.75-inch hail across parts of Charlotte, and the largest reported hail near Charlotte since 2004 was a two-inch event. Properties along the I-85 corridor and across south Mecklenburg, southwest Cabarrus, and northern Lancaster counties have higher historical exposure than the northern suburbs. The Class 4 upgrade makes the most sense in those higher-exposure areas and on properties with longer ownership horizons.
15. What is the 2026 Contractor's EDGE program?
CertainTeed restructured its installer program in January 2026, replacing the legacy SELECT ShingleMaster credential with the Contractor's EDGE program. The new program has three credential tiers: ShingleMaster (entry), ShingleMaster PRO (mid), and ShingleMaster PREMIER (highest). SureStart Plus warranty tiers are tied to the credential level. ShingleMaster contractors can offer up to 3-Star coverage. ShingleMaster PRO contractors can offer up to 4-Star coverage. ShingleMaster PREMIER contractors can offer 5-Star coverage. The Lifetime workmanship tier with the Vycor upgrade on qualifying installations is exclusive to Premier contractors. We hold the Premier credential, and we have held it through the program transition.
If you are ready to schedule an inspection or to discuss which CertainTeed product tier and warranty package fit your property, our team is available by phone or through the form below. Our residential roof replacement page walks through the full process and pricing. The first call reaches a real person, not a routing system.
Super service. Super solutions. Super satisfaction. That is the Super Roofing Company way.
Brian Gleason is the founder and owner of Super Roofing Company. He holds the CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractor credential — the highest tier of CertainTeed's 2026 Contractor's EDGE installer program, achieved by fewer than five contractors across the Charlotte metro. Brian leads the field operations team and personally oversees every Super Roofing Company installation. He is licensed under South Carolina Contractor License #CLG 126643 and operates the company from Fort Mill, SC, serving the full Charlotte metro across seven counties in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Super Roofing Company 8811 Charlotte Highway, Suite 102 Fort Mill, SC 29707 South Carolina Contractor License #CLG 126643 One of only five CertainTeed ShingleMaster Premier Contractors in the Charlotte metro
